advanced dermatology - early diagnosis, moles

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has written a booklet (NIH Publication No. 99-3133) to help you learn more about common moles and unusual ones called dysplastic nevi or atypical moles. This booklet shows what moles look like and explains how they may be related to melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It describes the signs of melanoma and explains how you can check your skin for moles that might be cancerous. It also explains why and how you can protect your skin. Other NCI booklets about skin cancer and cancer prevention are listed in the "Other Booklets" section.

Cancer research has led to real progress against cancer -- better survival and an improved quality of life. Through research, our knowledge about moles and cancers of the skin keeps increasing. We are finding new ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. The Cancer Information Service and the other sources of NCI information listed under "National Cancer Institute Information Resources" can provide the latest, most accurate information about moles, dysplastic nevi, and cancer. Publications mentioned in this booklet and others are available from the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER. Many NCI publications are also available on the Internet at the Web sites listed in the "National Cancer Institute Information Resources" section at the end of this booklet.